Comparison

Secretly vs Zyphr

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Secretly

Features
Read full description

Secretly is a private messenger that needs no phone number and no email. Your account is a cryptographic key created on your device, and you get a random Secretly ID — nothing that ties your account to your name or your SIM card. NO PHONE NUMBER. NO EMAIL. • Create an account in seconds — no SIM card, no email, no personal details • Add contacts by Secretly ID, QR code or profile link • Your address book is never uploaded • Messages from people you don't know arrive as requests — you decide who can reach you END-TO-END ENCRYPTION • Messages, voice messages and files in private and group chats are end-to-end encrypted with the Double Ratchet algorithm, which provides forward secrecy • One-to-one voice and video calls are end-to-end encrypted • Verify a contact in person by scanning their QR code or comparing security codes; Secretly warns you when a contact's keys change • Your chat database is encrypted on your device YOU DECIDE WHO SEES WHAT • Choose who can see your last-seen time, profile photo and forwarded messages, and who can call you: everyone, your contacts or nobody • Auto-delete messages in any chat after 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days • Lock Secretly with a password, a pattern or Face ID / Touch ID • Keep private conversations in a separately locked "Personal" section • Hide chat content in the app switcher • Delete your account at any time, or let it delete itself after a period of inactivity you choose EVERYTHING YOU EXPECT FROM A MESSENGER • Groups with admins and moderators, invite links, @mentions and pinned messages • Group voice and video calls • Replies, reactions, editing, delete for everyone, forwarding and search • Scheduled and silent messages, chat folders • Voice messages, photos, videos and files • Stickers, including a sticker maker that cuts the subject out of your photo on the device (iOS 17 or later) • Link previews are created by the sender, so your device doesn't fetch links you receive • On-device message translation • Encrypted backups protected by your password, plus a recovery kit to restore your account • A Mac app, linked to your iPhone with a QR code OPEN AND HONEST • No ads, no analytics or advertising SDKs • Open source under AGPL-3.0 — anyone can review the code on GitHub • We publish a threat model listing what Secretly protects against and its known limitations • An independent security audit has not been completed yet — we'd rather tell you than let you assume SECRETLY PREMIUM Secretly is free. Premium is optional and adds voice-message transcription on your device, larger files, bigger groups and group calls, premium sticker packs, and personalisation: themes, accent colours, animated wallpapers, avatar frames, profile covers, app icons and ringtones. Security features are never part of Premium. Premium is available as a monthly or yearly auto-renewing subscription, or as a one-time lifetime purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm the purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings. Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription. Secretly works only between Secretly users. It does not send SMS or MMS and does not call phone numbers. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.secretlyapp.com/privacy-policy

About

Zyphr

A private messaging app offering end-to-end encrypted chats and calls for secure communication. It prioritizes user privacy with features like disappearing messages and on-device transcription, and requires no phone number for signup.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted chats
  • Secure voice and video calls
  • Disappearing messages
  • On-device voice message transcription
  • No phone number required for signup
  • Screenshot protection
Read full description

Zyphr is a private messenger built around one idea: your conversations are yours. Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted, video calls are secure video calls, and the server is never able to read them. PRIVATE BY DESIGN - End-to-end encrypted 1:1 chats (Signal Protocol) and group chats (MLS, the IETF standard for group encryption). - Encrypted voice and video calls (WebRTC / DTLS-SRTP) that connect directly between devices whenever they can. - Sign up with just an email, no phone number. Your email is stored only as an irreversible hash, never in plain text. Or sign in with Apple or Google. - The server relays only sealed ciphertext and helps your devices find each other. It holds no message content and no decryption keys. MESSAGING THAT RESPECTS YOU - Photos, videos, files and voice messages, each encrypted with its own key. - Disappearing messages, delayed send, and view-once secure media. - Read receipts and typing indicators you can turn off, in both directions. - On-device voice-message transcription (audio never leaves your phone). CALLS - One-tap voice and video, with a native call experience. - Call history with in-chat call records. YOURS TO CONTROL - Two-step verification and passkey sign-in. - Block and report, with username and impersonation filtering. - Screenshot protection across the app including video calls (secure video calls). - Delete your account and wipe your data anytime. Zyphr is ad-free and tracker-free.

Screenshots

Secretly4 screens
Zyphr4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Zyphr at daily against Secretly's weekly. Secretly's advantage is iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Secretly sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Zyphr sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Secretly ships an update weekly, Zyphr daily. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Secretly versus Zyphr: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSecretlyZyphr
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.5 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size176 MB58 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperSecretly SIAZyphr LLC

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Secretly

Subscriptions2
  • Secretly: Premium Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly subscription$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Secretly Lifetime Premium$24.99
1 purchases

Zyphr

One-time1
  • Founding Member$3.69

Questions

Is Secretly free?
Secretly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Zyphr free?
Zyphr is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Secretly or Zyphr have ads?
Neither Secretly nor Zyphr shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Secretly or Zyphr?
Secretly ships an update weekly, and Zyphr daily. Most recently, Secretly was updated on October 25, 2026 and Zyphr on October 28, 2026.

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